Where do I start? In an effort to re-boot this website that I started nine years ago I’ve been running through the record of the models that I’ve built and loaded some photos onto this site. I’ve also looked back at the stuttering blog, the last entry for which was 2017. I’ve no intention of looking back at the last six years to record all the highs and lows in my life, but given that the focus of this site is mainly given over to things that interest me and my hobby, it might be worth looking back at one or two entries and updating them.

1/32 Kits leave Cosford

I was sad to see that the RAF Museum at Cosford no longer wished to use the area between Hangers 2 and 3 as a model room, having plans to re-purpose it. From a selfish point of view it meant that I would have to re-house all of my models (still in boxes in the loft), but more generally it was the loss of a great showcase for local modellers and as a source of much pleasure for visitors. It may be anecdotal but I know that modellers from here and abroad visiting this years IPMS Scale Modelworld at Telford made the short hop down the M54 to visit the museum and this year wondered why the model room was no longer there.

I can only thank Sully Simon Thomason of the museum for giving me the opportunity to display my work, and for having the energy and enthusiasm to drive this project forward, albeit to a premature end.

In defence of hoarders

Post covid, as part of a whole-house spruce-up I drew upon unusual levels of resolve and determination to get rid of a lot of stuff in the loft that made every visit up there a health and safety nightmare. Hundreds of old magazines, books, and CDs went, as did part-finished models. However I really couldn’t part with my record collection, even though I don’t have a record player now. The last 7 and 12 inch record I bought was some time in the early 1980s and they’re all in mint condition. Too many memories! My brother is now custodian of Uncle George’s Coventry City programme collection and I added mine to it. Again, the memories are still too strong and I’d regret passing them out of the hands of the family. The hoarding instinct is still strong, and the model collection still large enough to keep me busy into my 150th year, but it is being kept in check. I will not however be parting with the few Wingnut Wings kits that I have in an attempt to cash in on the craving by some modellers to acquire them. Nor do I look at them as part of children’s inheritance. Those models are going to be built and enjoyed, like a vintage wine.

Scale Modelworld 2023

As soon as I saw this model I knew it was the class winner. I was really pleased for David Lane who got the gold and even more delighted to be sandwiched in the middle with my Roland D.VI as he also got a bronze medal. The finish on his Hannover is to die for and encourages me to raise my game. He’s not a bad figure painter either! A really enjoyable two days, and a chance to meet up and chat with friends and to make new acquaintances.

Modeller’s block

Well we’ve all had them. I’m a little more relaxed about my modelling these days and fit it around the rest of my life. I had a massive “to do” list at the start of this year and only managed a handful of models. However one Wingnut Wings kit started already, and a few other kits prepped and ready to go. Hopefully more material to fill up these pages over the coming months.